The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-05-13

POLITICAL HISTORY OF MIS-
SFsgTPPT.

Britain, Spain aud France befOr
the United States government too
possession u 1898.
Georgia then claimed jurisdiction
over Alabama and Mississippi, bu
ceded her rights upon the laymen
of S1,25O,OOO out OF the proceeds o
the sales OF the public land therein
Hence, as an historical aud lega
curiosity In regard To this State
we must refer back to the:
PrOpriety Charter OF CarOlin,
of 1868.
Proprietary Charter OF Georgia
1882.
Constitution OF Georgia, 1777.
Tue territorial government oil
Mississippi was established by the
United States in 1898, at its Fifth
Congress, second session, By an act
entitled "Au act for an amicable
settlement of the limits with the
State of Georgia, authorizing the
establishment of a government in
the Mississippi Territory"
Again, in 1908, the Congress OF
the United States tenth COngress)
at its first session passed another
act regarding the territorial govern
ment of Mississippi Gan act ex.
tending the right Of suffrage in the
Mississippi Territory, and for other
purposes" which was approved,
Jan. Q, 1908.
In 1917 an enabling act for Mis-.
sissippi was passed. 1t is entitled /:
"An act TO enable the people of the
western part of Mississippi Terrific
~ to form a Constitution and State
government, and for the admission
OF such State into the Union on an
equal footing with the original
States" This act was approved
March l, 1917.
Under this enabling act a con
vention Of the representatives of the
people vas called inhabiting the
western part of Mississippi Tern.
tory contained within the following
limits, to.wit: Beginning on the
River Mississippi, at the point
where the southern boundary line
of the State of Tennessee strikes the
same; thence east, along the said
boundary line, to the Tennessee
river /; thence, by same to the mouth
of Bear creek thence, by a direct
line, to the northwest corner of the
county of Washington thence due
south to the Gulf OF Mexico thence
westwardly, intending all islands
within six leagues of the shore, to
the most eastern junction of Pearl
river with Lake Borgne; thence up
said river to the thirty first degree
OF north Latitude thence west, along
the said degree of latitude, to the
Mississippi river; thence up the
same to the beginning.
This convention assembled at the
town of Washington on July Z, 1917,
and completed its labors on August
10, 1917. The Constitution framed
in this manner was submitted to
the people and ratified at a special
election, and is known as tue Con
Stlbutl0n OF 1917.
David Holmes was the president
Ofthis convention, aud Louis Win.
ston its secretary.
In the same year, 1917, the Fiji
teenth Congress OF the United
States, at its first session, admitted
Mississippi as "A State into the
Union by = resolution, entitled a
"ReSolution for the admission of
the State OF Mississippi into the
UniOn," which was adopted Decem.
10, 1917.
In 1882 the Mississippians made
another Constitution for the State.
This one was framed by a cOnven-
ton which met at jackson, Septem.
Der 10, 1882, aud completed it's la.
bOrs October 26, 1882. 1t was rati
fed by the people at the next gen.
eral election.
This Constitution, together with
the act of cession of Georgia to the
United states, April "a, 1902, and
the act of Congress relating to the
admission of Mississippi into the
Union, are to be found in the
Statute Laws OF Mississippi, by
Howard & Hutchinson.
z. Rutlius r. Pray was the presi
Ident of the convention which
framed the Constitution of 1882,
and a representative trom the coun.
ty OF Hancock, John IL. Mallory,
was its secretary.
This Constitution of 1882 was
amended several times. In 1852
section 20 of article " WAS amend
ed. This amended was ratified by
the people March IL, 1852.
In 1856 a section, to be numbered
z, was added to the schedule, to
take the place of all conflicting pro.
visions contained in this Constitu.
ton. Submitted TO the people,
sgreeably to the provisions of the
Constitution, it was ratified Febru.
airy 2, 1856, together with an amend.
ment TO section 16 of article Nv,
and an additional article TX.
In 1861, secession times, "A State
convention, which met ut Jackson
January z, 1861, passed an ordi-
nance of secession, aud amended
the State Constitution of 1882 bv
inserting the words 'COnfederate
states" IN place OF "United States,"
with a lew other unimportant
changes. These amendments do
not appear to have been submitted
to the people.
After fha warof